Waterproof phones

A dust- and water-resistant housing ensures that dust and water are kept out as much as possible. Water-resistant does not mean the same thing as waterproof. The degree of resistance is expressed in the so-called IP coding.

IP coding

A waterproof smartphone, tablet or other consumer electronics comes in all shapes and sizes. In order to be able to compare them properly, a scale has been devised for the degree of dust and water resistance. This International Protection Rating is also known as the IP code or IP code for short. An IP code is expressed in two numbers, the first of which says something about dust resistance and the second about water resistance. The following explains exactly what each number means.

A product with an IP code of IP67, for example, provides complete protection against dust and is water-resistant to a depth of 1 meter for a duration of 30 minutes. Manufacturers usually test this level of protection under laboratory conditions, aka ideal conditions. Practice is often more unruly. For example, natural elements such as salt and chlorine can also be harmful, which can damage a product with a certain IP code. So you have to be careful.

ATM

Another way to indicate waterproofness is through the pressure or atmosphere it can withstand. This is expressed in ATM (atmosphere) with a number beforehand representing the number of atmospheres. This form of classification is commonly used with watches to indicate whether it is suitable for swimming or diving. An atmosphere of 1, also called 1 ATM, stands for splashproof and is not suitable for swimming.

Robustness

Dust and water resistant is not the same as rugged. Phones with a robust housing are often also dust- and water-resistant but the extra protection makes them more resistant to drop damage. There is a proposal to expand the IP coding to include a third number that actually says something about ruggedness or impact energy.